Surgical management of pulmonary aspergilloma

Records of 59 patients (41 males and 18 females) who underwent 70 operations for pulmonary aspergilloma in a 23-year period were examined retrospectively. Sixty-three operations were for primary treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma, and 7 were for complications of surgery. Twenty-six postoperative complications occurred in 19 patients. Three lobectomies that resulted in bronchopleural fistula were managed by intercostal muscle-flap closure and partial thoracomyoplasty. Two patients died within the first week of surgery. Surgery is the treatment of choice for most patients with pulmonary aspergilloma. Selective bronchial artery embolization is helpful only in combating hemoptysis, and this has been considered a temporary measure in most reports. Thus, open thoracotomy and anatomical resection are recommended as early as possible after the diagnosis is established.